1. What does the Chorus tell the audience about Romeo and Juliet's affections, but what is the problem with that attraction? 2. What are the two suggested solutions of their problem (what two things can they use to their advantage to be together)?
Act II, Scene 1
1. Romeo slips away from his friends and the vulgar Mercutio makes some indecent comments about Rosaline to get him to appear to them. Why do they give up at the end of the scene? (What do they assume?)
Act II, Scene 2
1. This is the most famous of Shakespeare’s soliloquies. What is Romeo doing? 2. What is Juliet saying? 3. Why, at this point, is Juliet suddenly startled? 4. As Juliet points out, Romeo is risking death by being there. What is his response? 5. Since Romeo has overheard her private thoughts, what is Juliet’s greatest concern? 6. When Romeo swears by the moon, what does Juliet tell him? 7. After an exchange of vows, the Nurse calls and Juliet must leave. What is Romeo’s feeling as he stands there? 8. Juliet then reappears. What does she tell Romeo? 9. What decision does Romeo make?
Act II, Scene 3
1. The Friar, guessing that Romeo is out early because he was up all night, assumes that Romeo has been with Rosaline. When Romeo informs him that it is not Rosaline he wishes to marry but somebody else, what is the Friar’s reaction? 2. How is the Friar making fun of Romeo? 3. Why does the Friar agree to help Romeo and Juliet get married?
Act II, Scene 4
1. As Romeo enters, Mercutio and Benvolio are discussing Romeo’s longing for Rosaline and Tybalt’s challenge to Romeo. What change in Romeo’s behavior does Mercutio comment on? 2. After Benvolio and Mercutio leave, the Nurse asks, in effect, about the wise guy. What is Romeo’s response? 3. Reread lines 154-159. What is the nurse saying? (Put it into your own words.) Why would she bring this up now? (Think about what she just heard when she appeared on the scene.) 4. What is the message that Romeo gives the Nurse to give to Juliet? 5. What is it that Romeo’s man is to bring to the Nurse for Juliet? 6. What does the Nurse tell Romeo about Paris - her thoughts and Juliet's?
Act II, Scene 5
1. As Juliet waits for the Nurse to return, what is her mood? 2. How does the Nurse tease Juliet? 3. Finally, what does the Nurse tell Juliet? 4. The Nurse informs Juliet that she is off to fetch a rope ladder. What is this rope ladder to be used for?
Act II, Scene 6
1. The Friar seems to have some doubts about the wisdom of what he is about to do. Romeo responds that after he is married to Juliet, death can do what is dares to him. What reservations does the Friar express? 2. Juliet enters. What is the mood that Romeo expresses, and the mood that Juliet expresses? 3. What follows after they exit from the stage?
ACT II Summary and Review A. Find two quotations from this Act that you see as the most important. Copy down the lines, page number and line number as well as who spoke them. Explain what was said and why you think it is important to understanding this act.
In Class Writing:
Romeo and Juliet are now married.....now what? Their relationship is a secret and they somehow need to inform their families about it. So how should they do it? What should their next steps be? As you respond, think about all of the people involved in their lives, what plans were made, what events have occurred, and who knows of their secret love. How can they make sure their parents won't be angry that their children went behind their backs? Your response should be at least 10 typed lines in 12 point regular font. This line requirement shows that I really want you to think about the events of Acts 1 and 2 and what plans were put into motion by other characters that Romeo and Juliet's actions might interfere with.
Act II – Prologue/Chorus
1. What does the Chorus tell the audience about Romeo and Juliet's affections, but what is the problem with that attraction?
2. What are the two suggested solutions of their problem (what two things can they use to their advantage to be together)?
Act II, Scene 1
1. Romeo slips away from his friends and the vulgar Mercutio makes some indecent comments about Rosaline to get him to appear to them. Why do they give up at the end of the scene? (What do they assume?)
Act II, Scene 2
1. This is the most famous of Shakespeare’s soliloquies. What is Romeo doing?
2. What is Juliet saying?
3. Why, at this point, is Juliet suddenly startled?
4. As Juliet points out, Romeo is risking death by being there. What is his response?
5. Since Romeo has overheard her private thoughts, what is Juliet’s greatest concern?
6. When Romeo swears by the moon, what does Juliet tell him?
7. After an exchange of vows, the Nurse calls and Juliet must leave. What is Romeo’s feeling as he stands there?
8. Juliet then reappears. What does she tell Romeo?
9. What decision does Romeo make?
Act II, Scene 3
1. The Friar, guessing that Romeo is out early because he was up all night, assumes that Romeo has been with Rosaline. When Romeo informs him that it is not Rosaline he wishes to marry but somebody else, what is the Friar’s reaction?
2. How is the Friar making fun of Romeo?
3. Why does the Friar agree to help Romeo and Juliet get married?
Act II, Scene 4
1. As Romeo enters, Mercutio and Benvolio are discussing Romeo’s longing for Rosaline and Tybalt’s challenge to Romeo. What change in Romeo’s behavior does Mercutio comment on?
2. After Benvolio and Mercutio leave, the Nurse asks, in effect, about the wise guy. What is Romeo’s response?
3. Reread lines 154-159. What is the nurse saying? (Put it into your own words.) Why would she bring this up now? (Think about what she just heard when she appeared on the scene.)
4. What is the message that Romeo gives the Nurse to give to Juliet?
5. What is it that Romeo’s man is to bring to the Nurse for Juliet?
6. What does the Nurse tell Romeo about Paris - her thoughts and Juliet's?
Act II, Scene 5
1. As Juliet waits for the Nurse to return, what is her mood?
2. How does the Nurse tease Juliet?
3. Finally, what does the Nurse tell Juliet?
4. The Nurse informs Juliet that she is off to fetch a rope ladder. What is this rope ladder to be used for?
Act II, Scene 6
1. The Friar seems to have some doubts about the wisdom of what he is about to do. Romeo responds that after he is married to Juliet, death can do what is dares to him. What reservations does the Friar express?
2. Juliet enters. What is the mood that Romeo expresses, and the mood that Juliet expresses?
3. What follows after they exit from the stage?
ACT II Summary and Review
A. Find two quotations from this Act that you see as the most important. Copy down the lines, page number and line number as well as who spoke them. Explain what was said and why you think it is important to understanding this act.
In Class Writing:
Romeo and Juliet are now married.....now what? Their relationship is a secret and they somehow need to inform their families about it. So how should they do it? What should their next steps be? As you respond, think about all of the people involved in their lives, what plans were made, what events have occurred, and who knows of their secret love. How can they make sure their parents won't be angry that their children went behind their backs? Your response should be at least 10 typed lines in 12 point regular font. This line requirement shows that I really want you to think about the events of Acts 1 and 2 and what plans were put into motion by other characters that Romeo and Juliet's actions might interfere with.